ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY

ADDIS ABABA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTEMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION (CENG 3103)

CHAPTER-5.2
FLOOR SYSTEMS

(NASIR B.)
CONTENTS

Introduction

Components of a floor

Ground floors

Upper floors

Floor finishes

Review questions

The purpose of a floor is to provide a level surface capable of
supporting:
 The occupants of a building,
 Furniture,
 Equipment, and
 Sometimes the internal partition.

Primary functions of a floor:

i. Provide a level surface with sufficient strength to support the
imposed loads of people and furniture.
ii. Exclude the passage of water and water vapor to the interior of the
building.
iii. Provide resistance to unacceptable heat loss through the floor.
iv. Provide the correct type of surface to receive the chosen finish.

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To perform its function a floor must satisfy the following
requirements:
i. Adequate strength and stability,
ii. Adequate fire resistance,
iii. Sound insulation,
iv. Damp resistance, and
v. Thermal insulation.

In the traditional floor construction, a floor is needed to have a

clean, smooth, impervious, level and durable surface.

Floors are classified as ground floor and upper floor.

The floors resting directly on the ground surface are known as
ground floors.

While the other floors of each storey, situated above the ground
level are known as upper floors.

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A floor is composed of two essential components:
 Sub-floor, base course or floor base
 Floor covering or simply, flooring

The floor base is a structural component, which supports the floor

covering.

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3.1 INTRODUCTION

Ground floors are further subdivided into solid floors, suspended
floors and basement floors.
Solid floors

The floors supported directly on the ground are known as solid
floors.
Suspended floors

These are floors supported above the ground level.

Suspended floors do not rely on the ground for support.
Basement floors

These are floors resting at the lowest/basement level.

Resistance to moisture ingress is one of the main criteria in the

design of basement floors.

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3.2 FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENT OF GROUND FLOORS

For good performance of a ground floor, it should be able to
perform the following:
1. Support with out failure the loads imposed on it.
2. Prevent dampness inside the building by providing a damp proof
membrane in or below the floor.
3. Prevent the growth of matter and other living organisms.
4. Be reasonably durable so as to require minimum maintenance or
replacement work.
5. Provide a surface finish with a standard of appearance, comfort,
cleanliness, and heat retention.

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3.3 SOLID FLOORS

A solid ground floor consists of three components

i. Hard core: The main purpose is to prevent the dampness from the soil
penetrating and affecting the floor through capillary action.
ii. Damp proof membrane: an impervious layer such as heavy duty
polythene sheeting to prevent moisture passing through the floor to
the interior of the building.
iii. Concrete bed: the component providing the solid level surface to
which screeds and finishes can be applied.

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3.3 SOLID FLOORS (cont…)

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3.4 SUSPENDED FLOORS

Being supported on other elements of
structure, there is a void beneath these
floors.

Suspended floor is needed rather than a
ground bearing slab on the following
occasions:
Construction of Suspended timber floors
 soil with a low bearing capacity,
 sloping sites,
 soils containing aggressive
chemicals, and
 sites with high water levels.

Suspended floors are most commonly
constructed using timber and concrete
beams and blocks.

Suspended concrete beam and blocks

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3.4 SUSPENDED FLOORS (cont…)

Suspended timber ground floor

Sleeper wall
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4.1 INTRODUCTION

An upper floor is basically a principal structural element, and the
general structural design of a building greatly influence the choice
of type of floor.

Upper floors are supported either on the walls or on columns; they
have therefore the major problems of strength and stability.

The structural design of the of upper floors has to be such as to
support:
 The loads set up by the use of the building,
 Self weight of the floor,
 Weight of partitions, etc.

An upper floor can be constructed either from timber or concrete
(Cast in situ and precast concrete).

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Upper floors are regarded to be composed of three parts:
 The structural element,
 Upper surface or floor finish, and
 Lower surface or ceiling.
4.2 FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF UPPER FLOORS

An upper floor should:
1. Sustain its own weight and any other weights imposed on it.
2. Offer fire resistance especially in very tall buildings.
3. Minimise noise transfer from upper floor to the lower floor.
4. Be reasonably durable – minimum maintenance and replacement.
5. Provide an acceptable surface finish which is safe, comfortable,
clean and of good appearance.
6. prevent dampness.

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4.3 CONCRETE FLOORS (R.C.C. FLOORS)

Floors of modern buildings are invariably made of reinforced
cement concrete (R.C.C) for different advantages:
 Moderately cheap,
 Quite durable,
 Easy to construct,
 Fire proof and damp proof,
 Can be used in large spans, etc.

R.C.C floors can be cast in situ or prefabricated.
4.3.1 CAST IN SITU R.C.C FLOORS

Cast in situ concrete floors give the maximum freedom in design
since they can take up any shape dictated by the plan.

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4.3.1 CAST IN SITU R.C.C FLOORS (CONT…)

Based on the design requirements cast in situ concrete can be:
 Simple slab flooring
 Beam and slab flooring
 Flat slab flooring
 Waffle grid slab flooring
 Drop slab floor
 Ribbed or hollow tiled flooring
A) SIMPLE SLAB FLOORING

These slabs are quite suitable and economical for short spans and in most
cases they are wall supported.
 One way reinforced slab (ly/lx > 2). : the main reinforcement is placed in
the direction of the shortest side.
 Two way reinforced slab (ly/lx <2). : the main reinforcement is placed in
both directions.

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A) SIMPLE SLAB FLOORING (CONT…)

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B) BEAM AND SLAB FLOORING

When the width of the room becomes more, the span of slab
increases, and simple R.C.C slab becomes more uneconomical. In that
case, the floor structure consists of RCC beams and slab cast
monolithically.

The beams known as T-beams, act as intermediate supports to the slab
which is continuous over these beams.

These types of floors are generally the most economic and most usual
form of floor construction.

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B) BEAM AND SLAB FLOORING (CONT…)

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C) FLAT SLAB FLOORING

The slab is of uniform thickness
throughout with out down stand
beams and with the reinforcement
more closely spaced.

The reinforced slab is
monolithically cast with the
supporting columns with out any
provision of beams.

The flat slab transfers the load
directly to the supporting
columns suitably spaced below
the slab.

Used in case of large span and
heavy loads.

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D) WAFFLE SLAB FLOORING

The intermediate cross beams are cast on a rectangular square grid that
gives the under side of the floor the appearance of a waffle.

The advantage of the intermediate beams of the waffle is they support a
thin floor slab and reduce the dead weight of the floor.

This type of floor is used where a widely spaced square column grid is
necessary and floors support comparatively heavy loads.

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D) WAFFLE SLAB FLOORING (CONT…)

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E) DROP SLAB FLOORING

A floor slab which is thickened between columns in the form of a
shallow but wide beam.

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F) RIBBED SLAB FLOORING

Advantages of ribbed slab:
 They are light in weight.
 They provide better
thermal insulation.
 They have better sound
proofing qualities.
 They have better fire
resistance.
 Convenient installation of
electrical and plumbing.

Ribbed slab before concrete casting

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F) RIBBED SLAB FLOORING (CONT…)

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4.3.2 PRECAST CONCRETE FLOORS

Precast concrete floors are designed primarily with object of
eliminating formwork and wet poring, which make the installation
of an in situ floor rather a slow process.

Precast concrete floors can be erected rapidly and immediately and
they are lighter in weight.

Advantages Disadvantages

• Elimination of the need for • Less flexible in design terms

formwork • Problems at connections
• Curing time of concrete is • Requirements for lifting
eliminated device
• Superior quality • High degree of site accuracy
• Erection at every weather is required
condition

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4.3.2 PRECAST CONCRETE FLOORS (CONT…)

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4.3.2 PRECAST CONCRETE FLOORS (CONT…)

Double T beam
Hollow precast

Solid plank
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4.4 TIMBER FLOORS

The fact that wood can be glued, laminated or bonded to metal or
plates make it versatile construction material.

Timber floors essentially consist of boarding supported on timber
joists called floor joists.

The structural element of timber floors is the joist.

The joists are designed to carry the necessary load across the span,
and the floor planking adds to the rigidity of the floor.

Timber floors though quite light in weight, have poor fire resistance
and sound insulation properties.

The resistance of wood to fire and insects can be improved by
coating.

Care also should be taken in moisture flow.

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4.4 TIMBER FLOORS (CONT…)

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The choice of floor finishes depends on the use to which the floor is
likely to be employed.

The following are the factors that affect the choice of flooring
materials:
1. Initial cost: The cost of the material should be in conformity with the
type of building, and its likely use.
2. Appearance: covering should give pleasing appearance, it should
produce a desired color effect and architectural beauty.
3. Cleanliness: the flooring should be capable of being cleaned easily,
and it should be non absorbent.
4. Durability: the flooring should have sufficient resistance to wear,
temperature changes, disintegration with time and decay.
5. Damp resistance: flooring should offer sufficient resistance against
dampness.

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6. Thermal insulation: the flooring should offer reasonably good thermal
insulation.
7. Sound insulation: flooring should insulate the noise. It should not be
such that noise is produced when users walk on it.
8. Fire resistance: Flooring material should offer sufficient fire resistance
so that fire barriers are obtained between different levels of building.
9. Smoothness: the flooring material should be smooth, and should have
even surface. However it should not be slippery.
10. Hardness: It should be sufficiently hard so as to have resistance to
indentation marks, in prints etc.
11. Maintenance: the flooring material should require least maintenance.
However, whenever repairs are required, it should be such that repairs
can be done easily with least expenditure.

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5.1 BRICK FLOORING

Is used in cheap constructions, especially where good bricks are
available.

Is specially suited for warehouses, stores, pedestrian walk ways, etc.

Good quality bricks of various shapes and colors can be used.

Base course:
 Sub grade is compacted properly and a 7.5 cm thick layer of sand is
spread.
 10-15cm thick layer of lean concrete is laid over the prepared sub
grade.
 Slopes shall be properly provided

Construction:
 Bricks shall be socked and wetted
 The joints are rendered flushed and finished
 The brick flooring shall be cured for 3-7 days to improve the durability

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5.1 BRICK FLOORING (CONT…)

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5.2 FLAG STONE FLOORING

Dressed stone having rectangular or square sizes or any shapes are
used for making floors.

Stone flooring can be used for garages, entrance corridors, pedestrian
walkways, etc.

Base course:
 properly compacted ground or concrete base

Construction:
 Joints are pointed and cured
 Provision of slope is necessary

Advantages:
 Hard, durable and resistant to wear and tear
 Easy in construction and maintenance

Not suitable in places like residential building or important public building.

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5.2 FLAG STONE FLOORING (CONT…)

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5.3 CEMENT CONCRETE FLOORING

Suitable for residential, commercial and even industrial buildings,
laboratories, garage and ware houses.

Properties:
 Moderately cheap, durable and easy to construct
 Moderately resistant to oil and weak acids

Components:
 Base concrete and toping (wearing) surface.

Construction:
 The components can be constructed monolithically or independently
 Monolithically the topping is damaged during subsequent operation
hair cracks are developed
work progress is low
 Independently: base surface is covered with slurry, mix 1:2:4
 In both cases the floor should be cured properly (at least for 7
days).
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5.3 CEMENT CONCRETE FLOORING (CONT…)

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5.3 CEMENT CONCRETE FLOORING (CONT…)

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5.3 CEMENT CONCRETE FLOORING (CONT…)

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5.4 GRANOLITHIC FLOORING

Granolithic finish consists of rich concrete made with very hard and
tough quality coarse aggregates such as granite, basalt, quartzite

Suitable where hard resistant to wearing and durable floor is needed.

Mix proportion:
 1:1:2 to 1:1:3 for heavy duty floors
 1:2:3 for public buildings

Thickness of finish:
 Minimum of 25mm when laid monolithically with the top concrete
 Minimum of 35mm when laid over hardened surface.

Construction:
 Shall be laid before the base coarse has set
 Surface is tamped and floated
 Smoothened by steel trowel
 Grinding and polishing is done after curing
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5.5 TILED FLOORING

Suitable:
 Residential houses, offices, schools and other public buildings

Properties:
 Made of cement, clay, concrete or terrazzo
 Constructed in Square, hexagonal or other shapes and many colors.

Construction:
 Similar to laying stone or brick floor
 Over a concrete base, a 25 to 30 mm thick layer of mortar is spread
 Neat cement slurry is spread over the bedding mortar
 Cement grouting of the joints
 The flooring need to be cured for 7 days
 Grinding and polishing

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TILED FLOORING

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5.6 WOODEN/TIMBER (PARQUET) FLOORING

Timber is one of the oldest materials for floor finishing.

Suitable:
 Living and Dinning Rooms, Bed rooms, dance halls, auditoriums

Properties:
 Must have hard, Resistant to wear and durable surface
 Selection shall be based on texture, color, defects and grain
 Available in various shapes, sizes, texture and color
 Shall be avoided in moist areas

Sub-base: cement screed finished concrete base

Construction:
 Can be glued to concrete floors
 Can be joined by nails
 Protective coating like varnish, lacquer, wax shall be applied for
long service periods
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5.6 WOODEN/TIMBER (PARQUET) FLOORING (CONT…)

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5.7 TERRAZZO FLOORING

Terrazzo is concrete containing white and/or coloured cement and marble
chips as an aggregate in proportion of 1:2 to 1:3.

Suitable:

 Residential, Offices and other public buildings

Properties:

 Marble Chips exposed by grinding, may vary from 3-6 mm

 Decorative and high wearing resistance
 Can be found in market as precast terrazzo in the form of tiles (20-
30 cm, t = 2-3cm) even for Stair Treads and Risers or as cast in
situ.

Sub-base: concrete base

Construction:

 Shall be casted with the required mix proportion

 Grinding in three levels and then cement grout to seal holes
 Mirror - Polishing
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5.7 TERRAZZO FLOORING (CONT…)

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5.8 MOSAIC FLOORING

Mosaic flooring is made of small pieces of broken tiles of china glazed or of
cement, or of marble arranged in different pattern

Suitable:

 For Walls, Floors, Both internal and external, Stairs

Properties:

 Glazed or Unglazed
 Impervious to water and have dense structure.

Types:

 Porcelain - made by dust press method from ceramic materials with

vitreous body, resistant to freezing and thawing and abrasive wear.
 Natural Clay (Ceramic) – made of natural clays or shale, which
produce a strong longwearing structure with slightly textured
surface.

Sub-base: concrete base

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5.8 MOSAIC FLOORING (CONT…)

Construction:

 Concrete base made of mortar– mortar is spread & leveled to a depth

of 5 to 8 cm.
 3mm thick suitable cementing material in the form of paste is spread
 Mosaics are arranged in different pattern and hammered
 Stone roller about 30 cm in dia. and 45-60 cm long is passed
 White cement grout of creamy consistency is applied as a filler

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5.9 PLASTIC (PVC) FLOORING

It is made of plastic material, called Poly-Vinyl-chloride (PVC).

Suitable:

 For residential (bedrooms) as well as non residential building

Properties:

 Fabricated in rolls or tiles with different colors

 Resilient, smooth, good looking and cleanable
 Easily damaged by heat or chemicals

Sub-base:

 concrete base (smoothly finished cement screed)

Construction:

 Adhesive shall be applied to the cement screed surface

 Tiles are then pressed gently using lightweight rollers
 Floor is washed with warm soap water

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5.9 PLASTIC (PVC) FLOORING (CONT…)

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5.10 MARBLE FLOORING

Marble flooring is one of the most expensive floor finishes.

Suitable:

 Residential buildings (Stairs, Corridor, Kitchens), Public and

Worship places

Properties:

 Made of sedimentary rocks

 Different sources – Granite, Marble
 Durable, Water proof but expensive

Sub-base:

 concrete base

Construction:

 Similar to tile and terrazzo flooring

 Has to be cured and cleaned before use
 Mirror - Polishing
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5.10 MARBLE FLOORING (CONT…)

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5.11 ASPHALT FLOORING

Asphalt floorings are of many types and are used where wear resistance and
durability are the main design factor.

Suitable:

 Mainly used in garages, stores, etc

Properties:

 Wear resistance and durable

 Resilient, sound proof, non-absorbent and moisture proof
 Used for basement floors, ground floors, floors exposed to external
weather condition

Sub-base:

 concrete base
 Wooden base (for asphaltic tiles only)

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5.11 ASPHALT FLOORING (CONT…)

Types:

 Asphalt mastic: Made of sand and asphalt mixed hot and laid in
continuous sheets.
 Asphalt Titles – made of asphalt and other ingredients such as
asbestos fibers, by pressing the mix in different sizes, with
thickness varying usually from 3 to 6 mm.
 Asphalt Mosaic – similar to mastic but made with marble chips in
the place of sand.

Construction:

 The mix is poured on the concrete base

 Spread by means of trowel to get a level surface
 A thin layer of sand is spread which is then rubbed with a trowel
 Asphalt tiles are simply glued to the base surface

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5.11 ASPHALT FLOORING (CONT…)

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5.12 RUBBER FLOORING

It consists of sheets or tiles of rubber, in variety of patterns and colors.

Suitable:

 Offices or public building like hospitals, schools, gym etc.

Properties:

 It is manufactured by mixing pure rubber with fillers such as

cotton fiber, granulated cork or asbestos fire.
 Resilient and noise proof however they are costly

Sub-base:

 concrete base or wood

Construction:

 Fixed to the floor by means of appropriate adhesive or easily

laid on the base surface

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5.12 RUBBER FLOORING (CONT…)

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5.13 CORK FLOORING

Manufactured by baking cork granules with phenolic or other resin binders
under pressure.

Suitable:

 Areas where quiet and comfort are of paramount importance such

as libraries, theaters, art galleries, broadcasting stations, etc.

Properties:

 Perfectly noiseless
 They are available in various sizes, thickness, and shades [size=
10x10cm to 30x90cm, Thickness= 5 to 15mm]

Sub-base:

 concrete base or wood

Construction:

 Fixed to concrete base by inserting a layer of saturated felt

 By using fixing mechanism (suspended cork)

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5.13 CORK FLOORING (CONT…)

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5.14 GLASS FLOORING

This is a special purpose flooring used in circumstances where it is
desired to transmit light from upper floor to lower floor.

Suitable:

 Basement and upper floor where light has to be transmitted.

 Very costly and not commonly used.

Properties:

 Structural glass, in the form of tiles or slabs ( t = 12 to 30

mm)

Sub-base:

 Steel Frames

Construction:

 Suspended on closely placed frames

 Care should be taken to avoid joint failures
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5.14 GLASS FLOORING (CONT…)

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5.15 LINOLEUM FLOORING

Linoleum sheets or tiles are manufactured by mixing oxidized linseed oil in
gum, resins, pigments, wood flour, cork dust and other filler materials.

Suitable:

 Except for Bath rooms, kitchens, etc

Properties:

 Seasoned in ovens for 2-4 weeks (given several coats of lacquer for
greater stain and spot resistance)
 Attractive, resilient, durable, cheap and easily cleanable
 Subjected to rotting when kept wet or moist for some time

Sub-base:

 Concrete or wood base

Construction:

 Linoleum sheets are easily spread or

 Fixed or glued to base in various patterns

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 5.15 LINOLEUM FLOORING (CONT…)
 The sheets are either plain or printed.
 Available in 2-6mm thickness and 2-4m wide roll.

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5.16 CARPET FLOORING

A textile floor covering consisting of an upper layer of "pile" attached to a
backing.

Suitable:

 Passage ways, Bed Rooms, Hall ways

Properties:

 The pile is generally either made from wool or a manmade fiber

such as polypropylene, and usually consists of twisted tufts which
are often heat-treated to maintain their structure.

Sub-base:

 Concrete or wood base

Construction:

 Carpets and carpet tiles can be laid loose, stuck with a suitable
adhesive or in the case of carpets edge fixed using special grip
strips.

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5.16 CARPET FLOORING (CONT…)

65
1. Explain in brief, the essential requirements of a floor.
2. Discuss the requirements that must be fulfilled for a floor to serve
its function.
3. In what occasions are suspended floor is recommended over solid
ground floor?
4. Enumerate various types of upper floors?
5. Explain with sketches the various types of RCC floors. Where do
you use flat slab floor?
6. What are the advantages that precast floors have over cast in situ
concrete floors?
7. Enumerate the advantages of ribbed slab floor system.
8. Briefly discus the different factors which affect the choice of floor
finishing.

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9. Explain the method of laying the following types of flooring
(a) Flag stone flooring (b) Brick flooring (c) Marble flooring
10. Explain the method of constructing cement concrete flooring.
What is the use of granolithic finish and how it is made?
11. Explain the procedure of constructing the following types of
flooring (a)Terrazzo flooring (b)mosaic flooring (c) PVC flooring.
12. Write short notes on the following types of flooring (i) Asphaltic
flooring (a) Linoleum flooring (b) Cork flooring (c) Rubber
flooring.
13. Explain with reasons what type of floor finishing will be required
for (a) Operation theatre (b) dancing hall (c) library (d) ware
house (e) factory hall/workshop (f)Testing laboratory (g) hostel.

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THANK YOU!

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